Okumura Mananobu, Zhong Kui (Sho Ki), The Demon-Queller, about 1745, woodblock print, ink on paper (sumi-e), hand-coloring, (urushi-e), pillar print (hashira-e), John Chandler Bancroft Collection, 1901.1201

August 27, 2005 - January 21, 2006

Hashira-e(-ban), a “pillar-print format” of narrowed width, offered compositional challenges to 18th- and 19th-century woodblock-print masters. Pillar prints were designed by famous ukiyo-e artists, such as Masanobu, Harunobu, Masayoshi, Koryusai, Choki, Kiyomisu, Shunsho, and Toyohiro. Motifs commonly depicted in pillar-print format are kabuki actors and courtesans, literary and legendary themes, parodies of classic subjects, auspicious New Years themes, lovers, beautiful woman and handsome young men. Now rare collectibles, pillar-print images (hashira-e) were often used to decorate house posts or mounted as hanging scrolls hung in recessed alcoves (tokonoma). The exhibition includes pillar-prints, paintings, and some wood-block printed books and objects.

This project is supported by The Heald Fund

Isoda Koryosai (1735-90), Young Woman Holding a Love Letter, early 1770s, woodblock print, ink and color on paper; hashira-e; John Chandler Bancroft Collection, 1901.158	Torii Kiyotsune (active 1757-79), Young Woman Holding a Goldfish Bowl, about 1769, woodblock print, ink and color on paper; hashira-e; John Chandler Bancroft Collection, 1901.188	Momokawa Choki (Late 18th-early 19th century), A Courtesan and her Girl Attendant (kamuro) on New Years Day, about 1798-1800, woodblock print, ink and color on paper; hashira-e; John Chandler Bancroft Collection, 1901.218

Last Updated: August 18, 2005